Ohio State Buckeyes at Northwestern Wildcats
· NCAA - FootballAt Wrigley Field, No. 2 Ohio State looks to stay on playoff path against Northwestern
No one needs to remind coach Ryan Day what's at stake for No. 2 Ohio State.
The Buckeyes probably have to win their remaining games to keep their national championship hopes alive, and they sure can't afford a letdown against Northwestern at Wrigley Field on Saturday.
“Every week for us is like the playoffs right now," Day said. "We’re fighting for a chance to get to Indianapolis (for the Big Ten championship game). It’s always a topic of conversation, and it’s going to come down to our seniors and leaders and how they echo that message.”
Ohio State (8-1, 5-1 Big Ten, No. 2 CFP) is in a good spot, though with little margin for error. That all but disappeared last month with a 32-31 loss at Oregon, which was ranked No. 3 at the time and now sits atop the AP poll.
Though that stung, the Buckeyes' path to a national championship didn't disappear. It just got narrower. One more loss could keep the Buckeyes out of the 12-team playoff field.
They bounced back from that Oregon game with a sloppy and narrow win over Nebraska two weeks later. Ohio State followed that up by beating then-No. 3 Penn State 20-13 in Happy Valley and shellacking Purdue 45-0 last week.
They'll try to keep it going against Northwestern before the schedule takes a tougher turn. No. 5 Indiana and Michigan visit The Horseshoe before a potential trip to the Big Ten Championship game.
This is the first of two games at Wrigley Field for Northwestern (4-5, 2-4), which is coming off a bye after a 26-20 overtime win at Purdue. The Wildcats host Illinois at the famed ballpark on Nov. 30.
Northwestern's first five home games were at its temporary lakefront facility. A new Ryan Field being built on the site of the old stadium is scheduled to open in 2026.
“I do think we benefit from the fact that not only has the program been to Wrigley prior, but we were there just last year,” Northwestern coach David Braun said, referring to a loss to Iowa. “Logistically, I think there are a lot of things our guys are comfortable with in terms of what game day is gonna look like.”
“It’s a very unique place with unbelievable history, and so it’s a great opportunity for us," Day said.
In 1991, the Buckeyes beat the Wildcats 34-3 before 73,830 at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium — longtime home to baseball's Indians and the NFL's Browns. That was officially a home game for Northwestern as part of a deal with Browns owner Art Modell to move the matchup from Evanston, Ill., and give a cash-strapped athletic department a financial boost.
Will Howard found him on a crossing route for a 17-yard touchdown Saturday that cemented his spot as the most prolific freshman wideout in school history. His ninth touchdown of the season broke a tie with Cris Carter, who had eight in 1984. Smith had already surpassed Carter to set new freshman school records for receptions (45) and receiving yards (765).
The two teams haven't played in Columbus since 2016. They met in Evanston in 2019 and 2022 and in the 2018 and 2020 Big Ten Championship games.
How To Watch
How can I watch Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats?
- TV Channel: Buckeyes at Wildcats 2021 College Football, week 12, is broadcasted on BTN.
- Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
Matchup Prediction
Statistics
OSU | NU | |
---|---|---|
38.6 | Points Per Game | 19.2 |
454.9 | Total Yards | 288.1 |
269.9 | Yards Passing | 176.0 |
185.0 | Yards Rushing | 112.1 |
10.7 | Points Allowed Per Game | 21.9 |
250.8 | Yards Allowed | 349.2 |
155.6 | Pass Yards Allowed | 241.1 |
95.2 | Rush Yards Allowed | 108.1 |
Game Information
Location: Chicago, IL -
Capacity:
Buckeyes Last 5
Wildcats Last 5
Date | OPP | Result |
---|---|---|
vs IU | L 41-24 | |
@ MD | W 37-10 | |
vs WIS | L 23-3 | |
@ IOWA | L 40-14 | |
@ PUR | W 26-20 OT |
College Football News
QB Thomas Castellanos won't return to Boston College football
Thomas Castellanos will not be returning to the Boston College football team, he announced Thursday night.
No. 21 LSU and Florida are both hoping for a bounce-back following a beatdown
— No one at LSU and Florida can be happy about what happened last weekend.
Georgia to be without leading rusher Trevor Etienne vs. Vols
Georgia leading rusher Trevor Etienne has been ruled out for Saturday's game against Tennessee.
Florida's DJ Lagway to start vs. LSU after 1-game absence
Florida's DJ Lagway is "ready to play" against No. 21 LSU this weekend, coach Billy Napier said Thursday on his weekly radio show.
2025 NFL draft position rankings: Kiper, Miller, Reid, Yates
Who are the best players at every position? Our four analysts give their top-fives, plus their combined overall top-10 ranking for the 2025 class.